Audio Requirements for Music Distribution: File Specs Every Artist Should Know

Audio files delivered to streaming platforms need to be in a format the platforms can play. The most common requirements are WAV or AIFF at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, 16 or 24 bit.

Loudness matters. Platforms normalise loudness, so chasing volume is a race with no finish line. A release that is too quiet will be turned up. A release that is too loud will be turned down.

The master should be delivered in a final, playable format. A mix that is not final, or a file that is not the same as what was reviewed, will cause problems at deployment.